Acoustic wave supressor for Coriolis flow meter

ABSTRACT

A Coriolis-type mass flowmeter in which the flow tube is vibrated at a resonance frequency approximately equal to the frequency for forced or natural vibration in a higher anti-symmetric mode, such as the second mode. In the preferred embodiment the flowmeter is symmetrical and has sections of oval cross-section that provide low bending resistance to the vibration at the points where the amplitude of vibration is the largest. The preferred embodiment uses electronic signal detection/processing means that generates two signals proportional to flow tube velocity in the direction of vibration of equal distance but on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry of the tube, generates a sum and a difference of the two signals, integrates the sum, demodulates the integrated signal and the difference of the two signals to produce peak amplitude signals, and divides the peak amplitude signals to produce an output that is proportional to mass flow rate. The preferred embodiment is further equipped with a novel acoustic wave suppressor, including a bypass conduit and a flexible diaphragm mounted within the flow tube, which suppresses acoustic waves by transmitting them across the diaphragm, thus isolating the flowmeter from the acoustic waves.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 06/873,201, filedJune 11, 1986 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 856,939 filedApr. 28, 1986, now abandoned, which application is acontinuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.856,939, filed Apr. 28, 1986, now abandoned.

DESCRIPTION Technical Field

This invention is in the field of direct mass flowmeters. Moreparticularly, it concerns an acoustic wave suppressor for aCoriolis-type mass flowmeter.

Background

A. Mass Flowmeters

Mass flowmeters (or direct mass flowmeters) have sensing means whichrespond uniquely to mass flow rate. Other flowmeters employ, forexample, sensing means which respond to differential pressure or fluidvelocity. If one needs to measure mass flow rate with such devices onemust perform separate measurement of density and infer some flowdistribution pattern in the cross section of the meter and also inferfluid flow pattern, such as turbulence. They also require Newtonianfluid behavior, which is often not met.

Thus for reason of measurement simplicity alone, the direct massflowmeters are very desirable. Additionally, other flowmeters generallylend themselves much better to volume flow rate measurement (gallons perminute or liter per second) than to mass flow measurement (tons/hour orkilograms/second). In practice the mass flow measurement is much moreuseful because chemical reactions require blending of proportional mass(not volume) of ingredients and product specifications mostly refer tomass percentage of ingredients not volume percentage. Thus thisrepresents another major advantage of direct mass flow measurement overother techniques.

Coriolis flowmeters are direct mass flowmeters. They employ theprinciple of the Coriolis force and use the influence of a pattern ofsuch forces upon a flow tube carrying the fluid within the meter.Devices disclosed to date employ one or two flow tubes which may splitthe fluid stream and carry a fraction each or may carry the fluid streamserially through both tubes. The flow tubes are typically vibrated bymagnetic force coupling between a drive coil and permanent magnet, oneor both of which are attached to a flow tube. To permit attachment tooutside pipes the end of the flow tubes do not participate in thevibration.

For each part of a flow tube which is momentarily not parallel with theaxis of rotation for the element, a Coriolis force is produced. Theforce acts through the body of the fluid, which will produce pressure onthe flow tube wall. The magnitude of the Coriolis force is proportionalto the mass flow rate, the angular velocity of rotation and the sine ofthe angle between flow direction within the element and the direction ofthe rotation vector.

Under the aggregate of Coriolis forces upon the different parts of theflow tube the flow tube will have motion in addition to the motioncaused by the drive (vibrating) motion. "Motion" in this application isused to describe position, velocity, acceleration of a point oraggregate of points on the flow tube or any time-derivative ortime-integral of these variables. Over the time of a single flowmeasurement the flow tube's motion is periodic and any one of thesephysical variables for almost any point on the flow tube together withknown vibrating frequency and amplitude permits determination of theflow rate. The dependency of flow rate determination on drive frequencyand amplitude has been of fundamental importance in the design of priorCoriolis mass flowmeters.

When mass flow rate changes the flow tube motion changes which is theprinciple of the flow measurement. However, if the drive amplitudechanges, the Coriolis portion of the motion changes also. If one did notknow the new amplitude (for example by absence or inaccuracy ofamplitude measurement), the flowmeter may not distinguish a flow ratechange from the amplitude change. Similarly, if the fluid temperaturechanges, the flow tube wall temperature would also change. Theelasticity coefficient (Young's modulus) for the flow tube materialchanges with temperature impacting the Coriolis force induced motion. Achange of 10° C. would potentially bring the flowmeter outside specifiedcalibration accuracy (for example 0.2% of reading) if the flow tube wasmade of stainless steel.

Fluid pressure change modifies the cross section dimension of the flowtube and, thereby, its bending properties. Large pressure changes whichmay occur in practice can jeopardize calibration accuracy unless theflowmeter design eliminates this hazard.

Major considerations for Coriolis flowmeters are calibration sensitivityand immunity to density change. Process fluids seen by the flowmeter mayundergo extensive density change. The reason may be change of fluidtemperature and composition. The density change will modify the naturalfrequency of vibration for the flow tube. Since the flow tubes areusually driven in the immediate vicinity of a natural frequency, thedrive frequency will change with density. The flowmeter designdetermines the extent or complete absence of calibration error due todensity shift.

Another problem for Coriolis flowmeters (as well as other types) isentrainment of gases in the fluid. The gas may be in the form of visibleor microscopic size bubbles. Gas entrainment causes both density changeand change in the coupling between the fluid and the wall of themeasurement tube essential for the Coriolis flowmeter. GenerallyCoriolis flowmeters today exhibit significant to intolerable errors incalibration when the gas entrainment reaches a magnitude of 1% to 3% byvolume of gas to volume of fluid.

There is little distinction in principle between Coriolis flowmeters ofone or two tube design especially when in the two tube design the tubesare symmetrical and the measurement reference for drive and motionsensing of one flow tube is the other tube. A single flow tube devicemust use a reference which is not a tube with process fluid. It can be atube without process fluid, a blade spring or the reference can be thehousing itself. A major consideration is mounting requirements toeliminate influence from floor vibrations or pressure pulsation in theprocess fluid. Another major consideration is that the calibration ofthe flowmeter does not degenerate excessively when the fluid densitychanges.

In the past all single flow tube Coriolis mass flowmeters which have hadflow tubes with an inside diameter larger than 1/4 inch and haveemployed a single flow tube design have required extremely complicatedmounting. Even after being bolted to a ton of concrete such meters havebeen reported to be unduly influenced by floor vibration in an ordinaryindustrial plant. Double flow tube design of similar capacity functionsproperly in this environment. There is thus an advantage in double tubedesign.

However, the double tube design has significant drawbacks. It is morecostly and may require a flow-splitting section and a flow-combiningsection made out of cast bodies and having the flow tubes attached bywelding. This involves extra cost compared with single flow tube design.It also introduces a physical hazard due to welding attachments whichare far more prone to stress corrosion than the flow tube materialitself.

Pressure drop is a major factor in many Coriolis flowmeter applications.These meters have become widely used for highly viscous fluids and thickslurries, for example, asphalt, latex paint and peanut butter. In orderto keep the pressure drop compatible with the pumping capacity in theline, it is necessary in such applications to work with low mass flowrates. It is also necessary that the flowmeter does not introduce apressure drop in excess of available pump capacity. In other words, itis of interest to employ a flowmeter with a large diameter and shortflow tube but still seeing a low mass flow rate. This may introduce asensitivity requirement beyond the capacity of all current Coriolisflowmeter designs.

Acoustic waves generated by pumps and other process equipment can causeconsiderable deterioration of Coriolis flowmeter measurements especiallyif these waves are periodic and have frequencies in the domain of thedrive frequency or the natural frequency of the mode shape closest tothe bending caused by the Coriolis forces. Frequent transient randomacoustic disturbances may cause similar problems. The flowmeter may losethe ability to dintinguish between motion caused by such disturbancefrom a flow rate change.

The many restrictions stated above are major factors in Coriolisflowmeter design. The present invention addresses all of theserestrictions.

Descriptions of Coriolis flowmeters often state that the vibrationmaintained is at a "natural frequency" of a mode of free (unformed)vibration. In contrast, forced vibrations exhibit the phenomenon ofresonance implying maximum response to the driving force. The resonancefrequency for a structure of very low damping (typical for most Coriolisflowmeters) is almost the same but not exactly the same as its naturalfrequency at the proper mode. The magnitude of existing damping and themethod of forcing determine the difference. Since all Coriolisflowmeters are exposed to some force to maintain the vibrations, theremust necessarily be a difference between the exact natural frequency andthe one which is actually achieved. In order to simplify the descriptionthis small distinction will be ignored and where disclosures have beenmade stating that the structures are vibrated at a "natural frequency"this will be considered equivalent with operation at resonance with someselected mode.

B. Prior Patents

The advantages of the Coriolis flowmeter, principle has stimulated thedevelopment of many patents. Among them are the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,019 (Sipin) discloses two straight single tubeCoriolis mass flowmeter embodiments. The preferred embodiment (FIGS. 2,3, 4 of the patent) employs a driving force in the center of a uniformflow tube using a fixed frequency, mechanical drive. The bendingproduced by the drive motion is of single polarity along the whole flowtube at every instant of operation (ignoring the effect of Coriolisforce bending). The flow tube is semi-pinned at the ends withblade-springs. Strain gauges on these springs sense the tube motion andthe difference between the strain gauge signals is computed by a bridgecircuit. This difference represents flow and is displayed on a meter.

One major drawback of the Sipin meter is that the mechanical driveforcing vibration of a low-damped mechanical system will introducecomplex signal waveforms with resulting poor measurement sensitivity.The sensitivity of measurement using a drive bending pattern is low dueto relatively low angular velocities produced along the beam with smallCoriolis force magnitudes. If sensitivity is enhanced by driving nearthe first mode natural frequency, the mechanical system would becomeexcessively irregular causing huge disturbance levels on the signals. Afurther drawback is that the meter is highly sensitive to amplitude andfrequency of the drive motion making overall performance prohibitivelylow. Another drawback is the seals which are employed for attaching theflow tubes to the meter body in order to give the springs freedom ofaction. Under process conditions such seals would be prone to leak.

The major differences between this Sipin device and the presentinvention are:

1. The present invention drives the beam in resonance with a higheranti-symmetric frequency mode. This requires much less driving force andpower consumption and also furnishes smooth operation.

2. The present invention drives the beam with opposing polarity on eachhalf of the beam at every instant in time. The preferred embodiment ofthe invention uses a nonuniform beam cross section profile and massdistribution. Combined with feature (1) this results in an order ofmagnitude higher sensitivity. This design is insensitive to driveamplitude and frequency changes.

The second embodiment in the Sipin patent (FIGS. 7, 8, 9 of the patent)employs a single, straight, uniform flow tube which is attached withbellows to inlet and outlet pipe sections. It is vibrated in the centerwith an electromagnetic drive at constant frequency. The drive motionrepresents a single polarity waveform along the tube at any instant intime. Two coil/magnet sensors mounted on the flow tube near the bellowsproduce velocity signals. These signals are fed to two amplifiers, oneof which forms the sum, the other the difference between the velocitysignals. The difference is employed as a measure of the mass flow rate.The sum is a measure of drive amplitude and is used in a feedbackcontrol for drive amplitude control.

The second Sipin embodiment has reduced calibration sensitivity to driveamplitude due to feedback control. However, the flowmeter calibrationaccuracy will depend on the stability of the control loop to hold theamplitude within the performance specifications typically required forCoriolis flowmeters. Furthermore, the meter is sensitive to theconstancy of the drive frequency regulation and unavoidable inaccuracywill directly impact flowmeter calibration accuracy. The meter dependson a soft bellows for obtaining sensitivity. Bellows tend to introducevery large calibration sensitivity to fluid static pressure change andthis would create a major practical problem. With harder bellows thesensitivity of this design pattern is much less than the presentinvention.

The differences between the second Sipin embodiment and the presentinvention are:

1. The present invention uses opposing polarity of drive position andvelocity for each half of the beam. This invention measures the responsein areas of the beam where the wave shape of the Coriolis force inducedmotion is similar to the bending mode for the lowest natural frequencygiving far higher sensitivity. This invention is fundamentallyindependent of both drive amplitude and frequency regardless of theaccuracy or absence of control of either variable. The preferredembodiment of this invention uses a nonuniform cross section profile andmass distribution. This invention does not employ a bellows.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,355,944 and 3,485,098 (Sipin) show single tube meterswith some curvature as well as full shaped U-tubes in differentembodiments. All employ a central drive, implying single polaritydeviation of the flow tube from equilibrium at all times. Again this isexactly opposite to the philosophy of the present invention. Anembodiment without bellows is shown. These embodiments depend on flowtube relaxed position curvature.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,524 (Smith) discloses a three section flow tube witha center section connected with bellows to the outer sections. Eachsection is straight and uniform and all three have coinciding centralaxes. A fixed frequency, mechanical drive in the center moves thesections so that at any instant of time the deflection from the centerposition is of the same polarity for all points on all three sections.This is opposite to the present invention. The Smith design employsforce balance repositioning of the center beam. The torque is measuredeach time the central beam passes through its central position. Themagnitude of that torque is employed as a measure of the mass flow rate.U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,524 has the same differences from the presentinvention as the meters of the Sipin patents. Additionally, the presentinvention does not employ torque measurement and it does not perform"snapshot observation" at a central position.

U.S. Pat. No. 127,028 (Cox & Gonzales) discloses a double flow tubemeter design. The flow tubes are of identical shape and construction.Both are U-shaped but with the legs of the U drawn together. They aremounted in parallel, cantilevered fashion on a fixed mount. The fluidflows through in the same direction through both U tubes. The drive iselectromagnetic with a drive coil on one U (at the bottom point of thebight end) and a magnet on the other U in the equiresonance frequencyassociated with the lowest frequency mode with vibration around themounting point. The Coriolis forces twist the U tubes so that they areno longer plane. This motion element corresponds to another vibratingmode. The U tubes are shaped so that the natural frequency of theresponse mode is nearly the same as the drive resonance frequency. Theobjective is to enhance the response magnitude. A drawback not discussedby the patentees is that the response will become dependent on thenatural damping which is introduced by fluid/flow tube interaction andinternal crystal motion in the tube walls. Coil/magnet sensors measurethe velocities of the sidelegs of the U tubes with respect to each otherat chosen symmetrical locations on each leg.

The Cox & Gonzales meter is similar to the present invention in the useof forced vibration at a natural frequency and a structural design wherethe response deflection pattern is predominantly in a mode which doesnot have a widely different natural frequency. Major differences betweenthe disclosure and a basic aspect of the present invention are that theinvention uses substantially straight flow tubes rather than U tubes andthat the invention forces vibration in the second (or higher) mode notthe lowest mode with respect to rotation around the mounts. Finally thepresent invention is independent of changes in damping.

U.S. Pat. No. Re 31,450 (Smith) covers a commercial product, nowwithdrawn, produced by Micromotion Inc. The primary embodiment (FIGS.1-8 of the patent) employs a single U-shaped flow tube with cantileverattachment to a fixed mount at the ends of the flow tube. Anelectromagnetic drive using peak detector feedback vibrates the flowtube with parallel drive motion of each leg of the U except for theinfluence of Coriolis forces. The drive coil is mounted on a bladespring and the drive magnet on the flow tube. The blade spring ismanually adjusted to match the natural frequency of the flow tube in itsfirst vibrating mode when the flow tube is filled with a fluid of aparticular density. If the fluid had a different density, a differentadjustment (by weight modification must be done. The flow tube isvibrated at the resonance frequency of its first natural mode ofvibration. Optical sensors measure the twist of the U tubes atsymmetrical points on the legs similar to Cox & Gonzales. The sensorsignals are an on/off-type using the effect of a shadow of bladesmounted on the legs. When the shadow of the first leg arrives at therelaxed position (midplane) it triggers a photodetector to start acounter. When the other leg triggers its photodetector, the count istaken. The time differential for the midplane arrival is used forproportional determination of the mass flow rate. The twisting motion ofthe U coincides with the motion occurring during free natural vibrationin mode with higher frequency than the drive frequency.

The main drawback of the method described by U.S. Pat. No. Re 31,450 isthat it depends on the housing as position reference. Any gradualwarping of this housing due to stress release or other reason wouldbring in a sustained calibration shift. The instrument is extremelysensitive to floor and outside pipe vibrations and requires rigidattachment to huge weights such as concrete blocks. The assumption oflinear relationship between flow rate and midplane time differentialapplies only for small time differentials which restricts the range ofmeasurement. The design is also sensitive to fluid density change andnatural frequency change due to changes in fluid temperature andpressure. Drift of the feedback-controlled drive amplitude will alsocause calibration errors.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,338 (Smith) covers a meter sold by Micromotion Inc.under the name C-Model. This patent discloses a design which is, inprinciple, identical to the preferred embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. Re31,450. The difference is that the optical sensors have been replaced bymagnet/coil velocity sensors and that the blade spring for drivecounterbalance has been replaced by an empty flow tube. The signals fromthe velocity sensors are integrated and amplified into square waveform.This provides waveform and phase identity with the signals produced bythe optical "shadow sensors" employed in the U.S. Pat. No. Re 31,450design. The signals are used in the same manner to determine thedifference in arrival time at the midplane. The drive system in thisdisclosure is the same as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re 31,450. In orderto eliminate drift which could (and does) occur in the integrators,these circuits are limited to the frequency domain of the drivefrequency and no integration is performed at a low or zero frequency.Except for the freedom from gradual shift in housing position thisdesign has all the other drawbacks pointed out for the design of U.S.Pat. No. Re 31,450.

Major differences between the two Smith patents just described and thepresent invention are as follows: First, an aspect of this inventionuses substantially straight flow tubes, not U tubes. This inventiondrives the flow tube at a resonance frequency corresponding to a highanti-symmetric mode not to its first mode. This invention does notemploy any time measurement in its preferred embodiment. In analternative embodiment, this invention uses time measurement for phasedetection without reference to a midplane location. In this embodimentthis invention does not assume linear relationships. This invention inits preferred embodiment does not use a blade spring or empty flow tubeas counterbalance in the drive force application. This invention uses adetection method which eliminates all sensitivity to fluid density,inaccuracy in drive amplitude regulation, and drive frequency change.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,025 (Smith & Cage) describes meters that are sold byMicromotion Inc. under the designation "D-Model". The meters use two Utubes similar to Cox & Gonzales but the legs are straight in thevicinity of the mount and over most of the sides of the tubes. It usesan electromagnetic drive acting between the tubes creating relativemotion. Magnet/coil velocity sensors determine the relative motionbetween the sensors as in the Cox & Gonzales design. Some elements ofthe meters of U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,038 are incorporated in the preferredembodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,025, namely the integrators andamplifiers which convert the resulting position signals to square waves.These square waves control a counter for measurement of timedifferential at arrival at "the respective midplanes" of the tubes. Thedevices sold by Micromotion which are stated to be covered by thispatent do not have any feature for "midplane" or "relaxed position"determination but simply trigger the counter for timing when theintegrated velocity signals pass at some preset and constant deviationfrom zero. The patent also discloses "plenums" or two small chamberswhich are provided at the inlet and outlet of the flow tubes. The fluidis split into two streams and recombined with a plenum handling each ofthose functions. No physical mechanism explaining how the plena improvethe operation is furnished. They do not allow wave bypass or attenuationby a tuned hydraulic circuit as disclosed in the present application.

The meter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,025 has the same limitations as that ofU.S. Pat. No. 4,422,338 except that the anchoring of the flowmeter to ahuge mass of material is not necessary.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,833 (Sipin) describes a commercial Coriolisflowmeter sold by Smith Meter Company. It employs single or double,parallel flow tubes in different embodiments. The flow tubes areS-shaped. The drive force is applied at the center of the S. Sensingdevices are mounted near the top and bottom of the S. In one embodimentthe sensors are optical on/off switches and difference in arrival timeat a fixed position is used as a measure of flow rate. Anotherembodiment employs analog deflection sensors and the difference of thetwo transducer signals is used to determine the flow rate. Acounterbalancing spring for the drive is also presented as an additionalembodiment of the drive system.

In contrast to U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,833, the present invention does notuse an S-shaped conduit as a flow tube. In the preferred embodiment,this invention uses the difference in separately located motion sensorsignals. However, the present invention creates a unique previouslyundetected advantage by a particular combination of such differentialsignals with other mathematical operation. This gives major advantagesover the design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,833 in terms ofindependency to density, drive frequency and amplitude shifts.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 775,739 filed 9-13-85 (in the name ofthe present applicant) describes commercial products sold by ExacCorporation. That application describes single and multi flow tubedesign where each flow tube has a helical design (cross-over loop). Thedrive vibration is at the lowest resonance frequency of the structure.The Coriolis forces twist the loop and produce a response predominantlyin the third mode of natural vibration. In one embodiment sensors oneach side of the loop are used for differential phase measurement usingnonlinear relationship including tangent function. This embodimentrequires determination of drive frequency to be used in the measurementalgorithm. It employs a temperature sensor attached to the flow tube tofurnish compensation for fluid temperature change. Another disclosedsensing embodiment uses a position or velocity measurement between twotube sections at the crossover point. Electromagnetic dampeners arepresented for restricting loop vibrations. A disclosure is made of avelocity feedback control loop for continuous feedback regulation ofloop velocity in the direction of the drive.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,421, issued to Dahlin et al., also describescommercial products sold by Exac Corporation. The application expands ona special version of the helical loop design described in Ser. No.775,739. The latter discloses a general helical loop which might have acircle as projection on a certain plane or have a projection of anyother shape. The former designates a projected shape with elongation inthe direction of the opposed situated inlet and outlet flanges. It alsoshows the usage of a horseshoe magnet and coil as an embodiment of localvelocity sensing.

The present invention is different from the meters described in thereferenced U.S. patent applications due to the absence of crossoverloops. The present invention operates with a drive frequency which isthe resonance frequency for a higher mode than the mode in which theresponse to the Coriolis forces occurs, which is opposite to theteachings of Ser. Nos. 775,739 and 777,707 filed 9-13-85. The instantinvention accomplishes in its preferred embodiment frequencyindependency without the complexity of explicit measurement of thatfrequency. This invention is also fundamentally independent of frequencyinstead of relying on a particular approximate formula for adjustment tofrequency change. The present invention has an additional advantage overthe devices of Ser. Nos. 775,739 and 777,707, namely that it hasfundamental independency to drive amplitude shift in contrast to anindependency which is valid only as long as constancy in pulse wave formis maintained.

C. Related Product Literature

The following commercial product literature discloses technology relatedto the present invention.

Hewlett-Packard Application Note No 200-3 (1974) entitled "PrecisiontimeInterval Measurement Using an Electronic Counter". This documentdescribes a standard product for determining the phase angle between twoperiodic electronic signals having the same frequency. It uses the timedifference between zero crossing of the two signals determined by acounter started and stopped by the leading and trailing signal,respectively. It also determines by separate counting the frequencyitself and obtains the phase angle by division.

Danfoss Type Mass 1000/1100 Mass Flowmeter (brochure printed 1985). Thisdocument describes a Coriolis flowmeter using two slightly curveduniform flow tubes. The process flow stream is divided with each flowtube carrying a fraction. The flow tubes are rigidly attached at bothends adjacent to each other. An electromagnetic drive with a drive coilis mounted at the center of one flow tube and a magnet is mountedopposite to it and in the center of the other flow tube. The driveoperates at the resonance frequency of the first mode of vibration.Magnet/coil type velocity sensors mounted at about 1/4 and 3/4 distancefrom the end determine the combined motion due to drive and Coriolisforces. The sense coils are mounted on one flow tube and the sensemagnets on the other and thus the device detects relative motion similarto Cox & Gonzales. The time differential between arrival at zerovelocity seen at the two sensor locations is employed as a measure offlow rate. The time differential is determined by an electronic counter.The deflection due to Coriolis forces is in a modeshape of higherfrequency than the drive frequency.

The major differences between the Danfoss design and the instantinvention are as follows: The present invention in one of its preferredembodiment uses one flow tube, not two. This invention drives the flowtube at the resonance frequency corresponding to a higher anti-symmetricmode rather than the first mode. The instant invention measures theresponse in a far more sensitive deflection pattern. Combined with thisadvantage the present invention applies a unique nonuniform flow tubecross section and mass distribution for further enhancement ofsensitivity. The combined result is one to two orders of magnitudehigher sensitivity with this invention than the Danfoss design derivingfrom flow tube design and operation only. Furthermore, this inventionemploys a unique signal handling method leading to immunity to fluiddensity, drive frequency and amplitude shift.

Solartron Transducers, Houston, Tex. Brochure: Liquid DensityTransducers Type 7830 and 7840. This brochure describes densitometerswhich use one vibrating flow tube for its primary sensing function. Thenatural frequency of vibration or the associated nearby resonancefrequency for forced vibration is a function of the fluid density.Larger mass within the fixed volume confinement of the flow tube makesthe tube vibrate slower. This densitometer is stated to operate "at oneof its natural frequencies" and is stated to "overcome the normaldifficulties associated with vibrating a single straight tube". Thismust be interpreted to imply a drive frequency at a higher mode than thefirst mode since many other densitometer disclosures have operation inthe first mode. The present invention also uses a drive in a higherfrequency mode and uses a straight single tube. However, a totallydifferent set of problems originates in the design of a Coriolisflowmeter than in a vibrating densitometer. The reasons and some of themajor motivation in the flowmeter design for using the higher mode drivefrequency is the need for sensitivity in detecting influence of Coriolisforces, which are not essential and probably a nuisance for densitometerdesign. In order to make a higher mode Coriolis flowmeter successful,different understanding and design considerations come into theforefront which have no relevance for the densitometer design. Theenhancement of flowmeter response by nonuniform cross section profileand mass distribution presented in this invention would not bemeaningful for the densitometer design.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One major overall purpose of this invention is to provide a commercialproduct usable in process industries and commercial businessespermitting accurate and economical mass flow measurement. Suchmeasurement has great economic impact on production economy and productquality in industries and a large number of businesses.

Due to enormous safety hazards which exist in many process operationsanother major purpose is to provide a device which can be economicallyproduced without jeopardy of the most stringent safety requirements.

A third major objective is to provide a device which can be operatedeconomically, specifically meaning operation with a minimum of powerconsumption. This power consumption refers to pumping power to overcomethe pressure drop caused by the flowmeter insertion in a process line.

A fourth major objective is to provide a device which has so high ameasurement sensitivity that it can be used for important applicationswhere it has not previously been possible to perform a flow measurementat all. A frequent reason for this may be extremely high viscosity.

Translating these overall objectives into more detailed designobjectives the following are key aspects of the invention.

The invention provides a flowmeter which can be used in average sizepipes using only a single, straight flow tube. Average size impliespipes of inside diameter of 1/4 to 3/4 inch. Today no such Coriolisflowmeter exists. There are many advantages of single flow tube devicesnamely: higher safety due to absence of welding connections in the flowtube; lower manufacturing cost; lower pressure drop in reducing pumpingcost and permitting usage with more viscous fluids; and lower weightwhich simplifies installation in free-hanging piping systems.

The invention furnishes a direct mass flowmeter which fundamentally hasits calibration immune to fluid density change and control accuracy ofdrive frequency and amplitude without auxiliary compensatorymeasurement. No such device exists in the prior art.

Another objective is to furnish a flowmeter that has less calibrationerrors to gas entrainment than other Coriolis flowmeters by eliminationof sensitivity to extra phase shift between sensor signals introduced bysuch entrainment.

The invention furnishes a flowmeter which has its calibration lesssensitive to fluid temperature and pressure change without introductionof auxiliary measurement. It can also accomplish such compensation forelimination of remaining sensitivity by introduction of auxiliarytransducers and computing means.

The invention furnishes a Coriolis flowmeter having higher accuracy thanstraight tube Coriolis flowmeters have achieved in prior art.

The invention furnishes far higher sensitivity than prior art straighttube Coriolis flowmeters have achieved and thereby permits a widermeasurement range.

The invention furnishes higher immunity to floor and lateral pipevibrations than achievable with prior art.

The invention furnishes an attachable device which permits flowmeteroperation in the presence of periodic or random acoustical waves in theconnecting pipes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are not to scale and some dimensions are distorted for thepurpose of illustration. Like elements are referred to by like numeralsin the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an elevational, sectional view of a first preferred embodimentof the Coriolis flowmeter of the invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are enlarged views taken at lines 2A--2A, 2B--2B,and 2C--2C of FIG. 1 showing the cross-sectional shapes of segments ofthe flow tube of the meter of FIG. 1. FIG. 2D is an enlarged sectionalview showing an alternative geometry in which the tube is flattenedalong the Z axis rather than the Y axis. Such geometry might be used tostiffen the tube against bending. Such geometry might be used at thecenter of the tube. Alternatively, stiffening means such as additionalcladding or increased tube thickness could be used instead of alteringthe tube geometry.

FIGS. 3A through 3E show deflection patterns for a straight beam (flowtube) fixedly mounted at both ends vibrated in the first through fifthmodes of natural vibration, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a second mode deflection pattern similar to FIG. 3B that showsthe pattern of Coriolis factors acting on the beam.

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation obtained by computer modeling ofthe second mode deflection pattern, Coriolis force amplitudedistribution, and bending for a beam suspended as in FIGS. 3A-3E andvibrated in the second mode.

FIG. 6 is an elevational, sectional view of another embodiment of theCoriolis flowmeter of the invention.

FIG. 7A is an elevational partly schematic view of another embodiment ofa single tube Coriolis flowmeter of the invention.

FIG. 7B is an elevational, sectional view of a double tube embodiment ofthe Coriolis flowmeter of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an elevational, sectional view of a Coriolis flowmeter showingan alternative housing structure that includes an acoustical insulatinglayer.

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a Coriolis flowmeter operated inaccordance with the invention that depicts the drive motion and responsemotion curves and the position of sensors on the tube.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the preferred circuit for processing the signalsgenerated by the sensors of the meter of FIG. 1. Part A of the Figureshows the circuit used to process signals for meters using ananti-symmetric drive and Part B of the Figure shows the circuit used toprocess signal for meters using a symmetric drive.

FIG. 10C is an elevational view of an alternative double tube Coriolisflowmeter of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an alternative circuit for processing thesignals generated by the sensors.

FIG. 12 is an elevational, sectional view of a Coriolis flowmeterequipped with an acoustic wave suppressor device.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are elevational, sectional views of the meter of FIG. 12equipped with alternative embodiments of the acoustic wave suppressordevice.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A. Flow Tube and Housing

A first preferred embodiment of the invention for flowmeters having aflow tube diameter of 3/4 inch or less is shown in FIG. 1. A flow tube 1is rigidly attached to the sidewalls 2 and 3 of a housing 4. The flowtube penetrates the sidewalls and has flanges 5 and 6 mounted on it.These flanges are used to attach the flowmeter to the pipes carrying theprocess fluid.

The flow tube has non-uniform cross section dimensions along its lengthas illustrated in FIGS. 2A, B, and C. The non-uniformity has been causedby using an original tube with circular cross section and formingsections of oval cross section in the tube. Specifically the tube has acircular cross section at the flanges and through the sidewalls. A veryshort distance from the sidwalls and from points 7 to 9 and 8 to 10 thetube has the oval cross section shown in FIG. 2B. The Z-axis in thatfigure is perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 1. Over the sections from 9to 12 and 10 to 13 the tube has the cross section shown in FIG. 2C.

The central tube section between 12 and 13 has a cross section with thesame dimensions as the sections 7 to 9 and 8 to 10. A stiffening of thecentral section will increase the resonance frequency of the first modeproportionally more than the second mode, which is advantageous from asensitivity standpoint. A circular central section or a sectionelongated in the drive direction (such as in FIG. 2D) has an advantagefrom a measurement standpoint but may create some increase offabrication costs.

The flow tube is symmetrical with respect to the Y-axis as well as theX-axis shown in FIG. 1. Both axes are in the plane of the paper. TheX-axis coincides with the central, common axis for all the flow tubesections. The Y-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis with an origin inthe middle of the flow tube. Thus all tube sections left of the Y-axisare of equal length to those with the same cross section right of theY-axis.

The flow tube is vibrated by two magnet/coil assemblies shown as thecoils 14 and 15 and the permanent magnets 16 and 17. The magnets arerigidly attached to the flow tube. The coils are rigidly attached to thehousing by the stand-offs 20 and 21. The coils are driven synchronouslyby electrical currents fed through the windings 18 and 19, respectively.These currents produce magnetic fields which exert force on thepermanent magnets 16 and 17. The direction of the forces are opposing sothat when the coil 15 pulls the magnet 16 in the negative Y-directionthe coil 14 pulls the magnet 17 in the positive Y-direction. By carefuldesign of drive coils and magnets so that they exert the same force theycan be driven in series from a single current source. Once the vibrationhas been activated and a desired frequency and amplitude domain has beenreached, one drive coil may be disconnected, leaving the other tomaintain the vibration alone. In that case the purpose of the seconddrive coil/magnet is start-up assistance to assure vibration in thewanted (second or higher natural mode). For start-up support, no carefulmatching of the two drive coil/magnet configurations is necessary.

The preferred embodiment uses two magnet/coil devices for motiondetection. The term "motion" as used herein means the position,velocity, acceleration, or any time derivatives or time integrals ofthem. These sensors have permanent magnets 21a and 23 attached to theflow tube. The coils 22 and 24 are attached rigidly to the housing usingstand-offs 27 and 28. The sensors are located near the center of theflow tube where the sensitivity is the largest but not so close thatthey interact with each other for example by coupling of magneticfields.

When the flow tube vibrates in the XY-plane the changing flux from themagnets 21a and 23 induces an electromotive force in the sense coils 22and 24 respectively. The windings 25 and 26 for the sense coils willhave a voltage and deliver a signal to a suitable electronic device. Thesignal is proportional to the velocity of the flow tube at the sensorlocation. A small horseshoe magnet (e.g., 21a and 23) surrounding ashort coil (e.g., 22 and 24) as shown in FIG. 1 is a suitable design forthe velocity sensor. The horseshoe or C-shaped magnet is shown in aposition where the "C" is in the XY-plane for ease of recognition of thefunction. In practice it is better to turn both the sense magnet andcoil 90° to make the "C" be parallel to the YZ-plane.

The preferred embodiment in FIG. 1 has two masses, 29 and 30, attachedto the flow tube in the vicinity of the drive magnets 16 and 17respectively. These masses are used for adjustment of the ratio of twonatural frequencies as discussed infra.

The specific locations of drive devices, sensors and masses along theX-axis are as follows. A straight beam with fixed (cantilever) mount atboth ends has a deflection pattern for natural or vibration in differentmodes as shown in FIGS. 3A-3E. FIG. 3A shows the lowest frequency forfree (non-forced) vibration of the beam. (The resonance frequency(frequency of maximum response) for forced vibrations is only slightlydifferent from the natural vibration frequency due to the very lowdamping of these vibrating structures and a flow tube properly driven atresonance with a mode will have essentially a pattern (relativeamplitude along the tube) as occurs during natural (free) vibration.Note that the modes discussed here and in the following refer to modeswith deflection in the drive direction. Other modes exist withdeflection in other directions. Thus, the second mode in the drivedirection may be the third lowest mode for the structure as a whole. Forsimplicity of description this mode is thus called the "second mode".

FIG. 3B shows the relative position (or velocity or acceleration)amplitude of the second natural mode of vibration. FIGS. 3C, 3D, and 3Eshow the relative amplitudes for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th mode of naturalvibration, along the length of the beam. The mode curves in FIGS. 3A-3Eare designated W1-W5. The shape of these curves depend on beam geometryand mass distribution. However, all uniform straight beams with crosssection symmetry and the same mounting at the ends have the same modeshape. Each mode has its own natural frequency of (free) vibration orresonance frequency under forced vibration. This frequency is uniformlyhigher from the first mode to higher mode. The resonance frequencydepends on geometry, mass distribution and elasticity of the beam anddensity of the fluid inside the beam (flow tube).

In this invention the tube is vibrated at the resonance frequencyassociated with and approximately equal to the frequency for naturalvibration in a higher anti-symmetric mode, such as the second mode. Thisis one of the major features leading to much improved performance bythis invention over prior art.

The location of the magnet/coil drive unit represented by 15 and 16 inFIG. 1 is approximately at the maximum of the amplitude envelope forMode 2 (W2) of the flow tube. The flattened flow tube section 9 to 12has a length which is about 12% of the full tube length. Its center isalso at the maximum for the Mode 2 amplitude envelope. The velocitysensor is much closer to the center of the flow tube. The mass 29 islocated opposite the drive points. All placement of the devices, tubesection length and position as well as their cross section aresymmetrical with respect to the tube midpoint. It is not essential thatthe drive elements are placed exactly at the extreme points of Mode 2but it is essential that good symmetry is preserved between the left andright halves of the flow tube.

The location of the extreme point of the Mode 2 amplitude curve can befound accurately enough by trial and error, a computer model, orexperimental flow tubes. Since the exact location is not crucial, fewtrials are needed. As a first approximation, one can use the well-knownshape of a uniform beam presented in FIG. 3B which has the extremepoints 29% and 71% of the beam length from the sidewall of the housing.

The size of the masses 29 and 30 in FIG. 1 can be chosen, for instance,as shown in the following example. The purpose of the masses andflattening of the flow tube at 9 to 12 and 13 to 10 in FIG. 1 is toreduce the natural frequency of the second (drive) mode withoutimpacting the natural frequency of the first mode as much. In otherwords the ratio of Mode 2 and Mode 1 natural frequency is reduced with aprimary reduction of Mode 2 frequency. Another embodiment with a centralspring is described hereinafter where the same ratio is reduced byincreasing Mode 1 natural frequency but leaving Mode 2 unchanged. FIG. 4shows the mode shape, W2, for a typical straight beam (flow tube) withboth ends fixed. The W2 curve is marked 40. Driven by a sinusoidaldriving force or vibrating under free vibration, the amplitude of W2will vary sinusoidally with time at each point along the beam (X-axis).Ignoring lateral vibrations, the sinusoidal movement in the plane ofoscillation has exactly the same phase and frequency at each point alongthe beam. In other words, the beam shape, W2, (relative amplitude alongthe beam) is invariant in time under influence of periodic (stationary)drive motion alone.

With fluid flowing through the tube, Coriolis forces act upon eachelement with different magnitude at each X-point. The magnitude at eachpoint depends on the angular velocity the fluid experiences at thatpoint. The Coriolis forces vary in time in the same manner (exactly inphase) as the Y-direction velocity. At an instant time when the drivemotion is in the direction of reduced amplitude, W2 in FIG. 4,symbolized by curved arrows 41 and 44, a pattern of Coriolis forces willpush the flow tube locally in the direction shown by the group of arrows45-48. Note that the Y-projection of the Coriolis forces change polarityat maximum 50 and minimum 49 of the W2 curve as well as the central node51 (W2 zero point).

FIG. 5 shows a typical W2 curve (shaded black), marked 52, the Coriolisforce amplitude (peak values) distribution, 53, and the bending, 54,resulting from Coriolis forces. The latter is bending caused by Coriolisforces alone and does not include the bending amplitude caused by thedrive motion. The actual position of the beam at any position and at anyinstant in time is equal to the sum of the Coriolis force-inducedbending position and the drive-induced position. However, the curve foractual flow tube position is not the sum (with inclusion of scalefactors) of 52 and 54 since the Coriolis-induced response is not inphase with the drive motion. All curves were calculated by digitalcomputer modeling. Note that the relative amplitude distribution forvelocity and acceleration are the same as for position although thephysical amplitudes are proportioned by the drive frequency. Thus theshapes of 52 and 54 apply also to velocity and acceleration.

The shape of the curve 54 in FIG. 5 is extremely important. The Coriolisforces are shown in FIG. 4 to be distributed in a manner which one wouldsuspect would produce a bending pattern similar to the third mode shape(W3, FIG. 3C). On the contrary, the Coriolis forces induce a bendingpattern which has an appearance of Mode 1. Computer analysis of thisexample shows 99.5% correlation between the Coriolis force-inducedbending pattern and Mode 1 and that only 19.5% of the kinetic energyinduced by the Coriolis forces falls in the third and higher modes.

The flow tube is far more flexible in Mode 1 than any in other mode.Therefore, the use of Mode 2 vibration leads to a Coriolis forcedistribution which acts upon the beam for its most sensitive deflectionpattern. A computer simulation of drive in Mode 1 of the same beam has adomineering Coriolis force response pattern with the shape of Mode 2(99.97% correlation). However, since Mode 2 represents a "stifferenvelope", the largest Coriolis force-induced deflection is only 4.5% ofthe largest deflection that can be caused by drive in Mode 2 inaccordance with this invention.

The general philosophy here is exactly opposite to all prior artCoriolis flow meter designs. All prior art designs vibrate the flow tubeor flow tubes with a drive-bending pattern for which the structure isthe softest (namely Mode) and measures the Coriolis force-inducedresponse by a deflection predominantly in higher mode, which is"stiffer" and furnishes low flow sensitivity. This invention drives witha bending pattern which represents a "stiffer shape" (Mode 2) and has aresponse in bending pattern where the structure is softer. It isintuitively obvious that this increases sensitivity. The design approachinvented here is applicable to U tubes and crossover loops, as well.

The drive power is a function of frequency but otherwise approximatelyindependent of the drive mode.

B. Example of Flow Tube Design

In order to illustrate the invention further, a specific example of theflow tube design is presented hereinafter. It is not claimed that theparameter values presented are optimal for any particular application. Asecond example illustrates comparative performance between a design bythe teachings of this invention and a flowmeter with a straight uniformflow tube driven in Mode 1.

The following parameters have been chosen:

Flow tube length: 40 centimeters

Inside diameter: 10 millimeters (before flattening)

Outside diameter: 12 millimeters (before flattening)

Wall thickness: 1 millimeter

Material: Stainless steel (316L)

CROSS-SECTION DIMENSIONS (FIG. 1)

Location of Points 7 and 8: Zero distance from respective sidewall

Length 7 to 9 and 10 to 8: 9 centimeters

Y-direction outside measure of above sections: 11 millimeters

Length of 9 to 12 and 13 to 10: 5 centimeters

Y-direction outside dimension of above sections: 5.5 millimeters

Length of central section, 12 to 13: 12 centimeters

Y-direction outside dimension: 11 millimeters (same as end sections)

Mass attached at the center of each of sections 9 to 12 and 13 to 10(includes the weight of drive and sense magnets): 70 grams

Fluid material: Water

Housing

Outside diameter: 83 millimeters

Wall thickness: 3 millimeters

Material: Stainless Steel (304)

Total flowmeter weight with housing and fluid: 4.5 kilograms.

By computer modeling the following behavior was established:

Nominal fluid flow rate: 1 kilogram/second

Drive amplitude: 1 millimeter

Drive frequency (Mode 2): 2062 rad/second

Drive and sensor location (distance from sides): 11.5 centimeter

Coriolis effect response natural frequency (Mode 1): 1505 rad/second

Dynamic amplification factor: 1.140 (amplitude gain due to proximity ofdrive frequency to the natural frequency of the response mode)

Maximum Coriolis force amplitude: 0.78 Newton/cm

Maximum deflection due to Coriolis forces: 0.021 millimeter

Maximum Coriolis induced velocity: 48.5 millimeters/sec

Maximum drive velocity: 2.06 meters/sec

Maximum stress at mounts: 34.5 nm/m²

Maximum % of fatigue limit: 16.7%

Drive momentum: 0

Drive angular momentum: 0.0014 nm

Vibration amplitude induced by flowmeter vibration: 0.015 millimeter (atflanges)

Flow tube natural frequency for vibration in the XZ-plane.

Mode 1: Approximately 1800 rad/sec

Mode 2: Approximately 4000 rad/sec

Housing natural frequency: Mode 1: 6549 rad/sec

It can be seen that this flowmeter introduces negligible vibrations onthe surrounding pipe and the single tube design shows no detriment. Theflowmeter has very small size.

The behavior described above illustrates the purpose of flattening theflowmeter at the sections closest to the housing sidewalls. It makes thenatural frequencies for the flow tube different for vibrations in thedrive (XY) plane from the XZ-plane. This prevents outside disturbanceswhich might start vibrations in the XZ-plane from influencing thevibrations in the drive-plane. The housing in this example is very stiffin order to furnish stability as reference for drive and velocitymeasurement.

The sensitivity of this flowmeter is very high. In order to create asimple perspective of this, a comparison was made by computer modelingof a design with a uniform flow tube with the same dimensions as thetube used in this example but before flattening. (Thus an insidediameter of 10 millimeters.) The commercial units available with a flowrate of 0.6 kilograms/second have a length of 74 centimeters and theunit presented above for 1 kg/second is only slightly over half of thatlength, which is a considerable practical advantage.

In order to approximately match such commercial units a length of 80centimeters was chosen and a flow rate of 1 kilogram/second was used asnominal (designated "80 cm Mode 1"). To show the advantage of drive in asecond mode modeling was made of a uniform flow tube of exactly the samedimension (80 centimeters long) and without any flattening from thecircular shape and also without any weight or spring addition(designated "80 cm Mode 2"). "40 cm Mode 2" below is the same design aspresented above.

The following results of special interest were obtained:

    ______________________________________                                                     80 cm   80 cm     40 cm                                                       Mode 1  Mode 2    Mode 2                                         ______________________________________                                        Drive frequency r/s                                                                          539       1486      2062                                       Drive amplitude mm                                                                           1         1         1                                          Max Coriol Forc N/cm                                                                         0.042     0.26      0.78                                       Max Coriol Forc                                                                              0.0067    0.022     0.024                                      induced bending mm                                                            Max Coriol force                                                                             3.6       32.7      48.5                                       induced veloc mm/s                                                            Max Stress % of fatigue                                                                      0.47%     1.96%     16.7%                                      limit                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

As shown, if velocity sensing is used, Mode 2 drive increases thesensitivity 9.1 times. The much more compact design with 40 cm lengthand the improved beam shapes is 13.5 times more sensitive than thedesign using drive in Mode 1. Using phase angle or time differentialsensing methods still shows major advancement by the Mode 2 driveprinciple as embodied in this invention.

Other suitable embodiments of the invention follow from the flow tubedesign criteria taught above. The invention is superior to prior artdesign even without flattening of the flow tube and adding weight asshown in the above comparison. Therefore, feasible alternativeembodiments are flow tubes operated as taught but using uniform shapeeither with circular or oval cross section.

Another feasible embodiment is to use a flow tube flattened at thelocations taught but add no weights. Yet another feasible embodiment isto use uniform flow tube cross section geometry (symmetrical withrespect to the plane of the drive) and add concentrated masses at theextreme points of the deflection curve for Mode 2 natural vibrations.

The embodiments with the mass addition and flattening serve to reduceMode 2 natural frequency with proportionally less influence on Mode 1frequency. An additional alternative embodiment instead raises the Mode1 natural frequency without change of the natural frequency in Mode 2.This embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 in which a flow tube 62 is depicted.Although FIG. 6 shows a tube of uniform cross-sectional shape, the flowtube can be of any shape and may also have concentrated masses added astaught previously. Electromagnetic drive assemblies 64 and 65 are usedto vibrate the tube. A spring 61 has been added attached on one end tothe center of the flow tube. The other end is attached to the housing63. Although shown as a coil spring, blade springs or other suitabledevices which perform the same function may be used. Since the spring isat the center of the beam where Mode 2 has a node (zero amplitude point)during the drive motion (ignoring bending from Coriolis forces which isof small magnitude) it will not have significant impact on Mode 2natural frequency. However, the center has maximum amplitude for Mode 1vibration. Therefore, the spring will influence Mode 1 natural frequencyand the amplitude distribution of this mode.

The spring has to have a spring constant comparable to the springconstant characteristic for the beam bending with a concentrated forcein the middle. If the two are equal the natural frequency for Mode 1will increase by a factor of approximately 1.4.

Compared with the preferred embodiment using tube flattening and massaddition, the spring approach has the drawback of reducing the Coriolisforce impact upon the structure and thereby signal level. The reason isthat the Coriolis force response is predominantly in the amplitudedistribution pattern of Mode 1. (The computer model showed that the Mode2 drive placed 80% of the Coriolis force induced energy in Mode 1 andthe balance distributed over Mode 3 and higher.)

The flow tubes of this invention do not have to be straight. Forinstance, one or two parallel flow tubes with curvature such as shown inFIG. 7A are feasible. As indicated by the large, open arrows, the drivemotion is parallel with the Y-axis but in opposite direction on theopposite side of the Z-axis (line of symmetry). The measurement isperformed by two sensors (not shown) at the locations "M" or by a singlesensor at the symmetry point (Z-axis intersection with the flow tube) inaccordance with the teachings of this invention. Other curved tubeconfigurations such as S shapes, U shapes, or cross-over loops may alsobe used.

Further feasible embodiments involve multiple tube design (i.e., two ormore flow tubes can be used), typically double tube design. Both tubescan carry the process fluid using serial or parallel connection alongthe lines disclosed in the prior art. If serial connection is used, forshould be in the same direction. Alternatively, only one tube wouldcarry the fluid and the other tube would be empty but having weightadded for maintenance of resonance balance.

In these double tube designs drive coils and drive magnets are locatedexactly as described for the single tube embodiment except that thedrive coils are mounted on the counterbalancing second tube instead ofthe housing. The velocity sensors may be mounted exactly the same way asdescribed for the single tube design with the coils mounted on thehousing. Only one tube would need the sensors or both could have sensorsfor the purpose of averaging the signals. Alternatively, the magnetscould be mounted on one flow tube and the sense coils on the other tube.Flattening and concentrated mass addition is made the same way on bothtubes for maintenance of the same motion dynamics for tubes atcorresponding X-positions. Springs can be added either as described forthe single tube between each flow tube and the housing or between thecenter points of the tubes.

The double tube design has the advantage of reducing the powerrequirement of the forced vibrating driving source. At a specifiedmaximum power level the flow tube can be designed shorter with a doubletube design than a single tube. In order to keep dimensions small atmodest drive power, it is, therefore, advantageous to use double tubedesign for larger flow tubes such as one inch in diameter and greater.The drive power in the previous example (40 cm tube length) has by modelanalysis been determined to be 11 watts at one mm maximum drivedeflection. It is quite feasible to use a smaller amplitude and 0.3 mmdeflection requires a drive power of approximately one watt. For doubletube design, a drive power of one watt is estimated to providesufficient amplitude for flow tubes at least as large as 2 inchesdiameter.

An example of one of these double tube embodiments is shown in FIG. 7B.Four electromagnetic drives 71, 72, 73, and 74 introduce and maintainvibrations in Mode 2 as taught previously. Alternatively, two forcingunits could be used operating between the tubes 80 and 81 in thepositions 75 and 76. The sensors are preferably mounted between thetubes at 82 and 83, similar to the sensors shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 7the tubes have been tied together with two plates 78 and 79. Theseplates are firmly attached to the flow tubes for example by brazing orwelding. The effective length of the flow tubes defining the naturalfrequencies of vibration is the distance between the plates 78 and 79.The purpose of these plates is to provide a sharp definition of beamlength for easier matching of the dynamics of the two tubes.Additionally the plates will prevent the natural vibration modesoccurring when the two tubes move in parallel from coinciding infrequency for modes activated by the differential driving motion anddifferential response to Coriolis forces. In FIG. 7B the tubes aredriven in the opposite direction so that when drive 71 pulls the tube 80toward the housing, drive 73 pulls tube 81 toward the housing (in theopposite direction). However, at that instant, drives 72 and 74 pushtheir respective ends of the flow tubes towards the center.

An alternative embodiment of the housing design illustrated in FIG. 1 isthe design shown in FIG. 8. Especially when drive and measurements arereferenced to the housing, it is desirable to dampen acousticdisturbances caused for example by tapping on the housing. The doublewall housing in FIG. 8 has a relatively soft outer wall 91. Anacoustical insulating material fills the space 92 between this outerwall and the inner wall which may form a cylinder as illustrated in theprevious examples.

D. Signal Detection and Electronics

The preferred embodiment described previously uses velocity sensorslocated near the center of the flow tube. It was taught that the driveis in second (or higher anti-symmetric) mode of resonance or naturalfrequency and that the drive force should be applied in opposingdirections on both sides of an symmetrically with respect to the centerof the flow tube.

Other sensors beside velocity sensors are feasible including on/offdevices combined with phase angle methods such as the one disclosed inthe cited U.S. patent applications. The phase angle methods and timedifferential methods utilize electronic counters. Feasible countingrates are of the magnitude 5 megahertz giving 0.2 microsecond resolutionof a time measurement. If 0.2 microsecond represents 0.1% of maximumflow reading, the Coriolis forces must roughly introduce a time delaybetween detection points of 200 microseconds. However, if one wants tomaintain 0.1% of reading counting resolution at 10% of maximum flow, thetime delay at maximum flow must be 2000 microseconds. Clearly, if onlyone percent resolution were required, 200 microseconds would still besufficient for maximum flow time delay.

There are many advantages to operating at higher drive frequenciesbecause this provides larger Coriolis forces and smaller physicaldimensions. However, time resolution errors increase and counteract thebenefit. The computer modeling for the 40 cm flow tube previouslydescribed has a time separation between the measurement points of only238 microseconds. The 80 cm Mode 2 model has much longer time delaygiving good latitude for counting methods with current electronics.Applying these well known techniques the best location for the sensorsis at equal distance from the center and near the center.

The results indicate that the full benefit of the disclosed flow tubedesign and operation would be obtained readily with higher speedelectronics, in which case the phase angle and time differential methodsdisclosed in the prior art can readily be implemented by anybody skilledin the electronics art. However, another method which is part of thisinvention and permits usage of compact flowmeter design will now bedisclosed.

Consider the signals at the two sensors 111 and 112 in FIG. 9. Thesensors are located symmetrically with respect to the midpoint. Assumethat these sensors measre the flow tube position. The position at anyinstant in time has two components, one introduced by drive motion alone(equivalent to zero flow rate) and the other by the Coriolis forces.These components are not in phase and the total position is described bythe following vector relationships.

    Y1=Yd1+Yc1                                                 (1)

    Y2=Yd2+Yc2                                                 (2)

where

Y1=position at sensor 1

Y2=position at sensor 2

subscript "d" refers to the drive component and "c" to Corioliscomponent

Due to the anti-symmetry of the Mode 2 drive motion

    Yd2=-Yd1                                                   (3)

Due to symmetry of the Coriolis force response

    Yc2=Yc1                                                    (4)

Add and subtract (1) and (2) using (3) and (4) gives the result:

    Y1+Y2=2Yc1                                                 (5)

    Y1-Y2=2Yd1                                                 (6)

Repeating the same calculation and recognizing the same symmetry andanti-symmetry relationship for the velocity vectors, Vij, andacceleration vectors, Aij, the following results occur

    V1+V2=2Vc1                                                 (7)

    V1-V2=2Vd1                                                 (7B)

    A1+A2=2Ac1                                                 (8)

    A1-A2=2Ad1                                                 (8B)

Simply expressed, these equations mean that both the drive and Coriolisresponse components can be measured by adding and subtracting theobserved beam motion amplitudes.

If the drive component is assigned zero phase angle this gives

    yd1=y1dm*sin (wt)                                          (9)

where

yd1=current amplitude component at sensor 1

yd1m=maximum amplitude at sensor 1

w=drive frequency

t=time

    vd1=yd1m*w*cos (wt)                                        (10)

vd1=current velocity at sensor 1

    ad1=-yd1m*w*w*sin (wt)                                     (11)

ad1=current acceleration

The Coriolis force at any point on the structure is proportional to massflow rate and angular velocity introduced by the drive at that point.However, the angular velocity at sensor 1 (or any other point) isproportional to vd1 because the system is described by lineardifferential equations describing stationary periodic motion.

The aggregate of all Coriolis forces within the structure introduce adynamic response at sensor 1 which is also proportional to vd1. This istrue because this response is also controlled by a linear, dynamicrelationship. Therefore

    yc1=C*F*vd1=C*F*yd1m*w*cos (wt+θ)                    (12)

where

C=constant

F=mass flow rate

yc1=current position of the Coriolis induced motion component

θ=phase-shift caused by structure inertia and friction factors

    vc1=-C*F*yd1m*w*w*sin (wt+θ)                         (13)

where

vc1=current velocity of the Coriolis induced motion component

Note that the only observable variables are y1, y2, v1, v2, a1 and a2,which are the time functions corresponding to the vectors Y1, Y2, V1,V2, A1, and A2, respectively. Also note we have no knowledge of thephase angle, θ. However, if the periodic signals y1 and y2 are addedelectronically and demodulated, the output of the demodulator will be:

    Peak(y1+y2)=Peak(2*yc1)=2C*F+yd1m*w                        (14)

where Peak() indicates demodulator action

We now electronically subtract the periodic signals v1 and v2 anddemodulate the difference. The result is

    Peak(v1-v2)=Peak(2*vd1)=2*yd1m*w                           (15)

Dividing (14) with (15) and solving for F gives:

    F=[Peak(y1+y2)/Peak(v1-v2)]/2C.                            (16)

This result is extremely important because both drive amplituderepresented by yd1m and the drive frequency, w, cancelled out in thelast operation. In other words the circuit outlined through thisprocedure furnishes a measure of mass flow which is completely andfundamentally independent of both drive amplitude and frequency. This isthe ideal solution. Furthermore no reliance is made that the phaseangle, θ, which depends on complicated factors, remains constant.

One can similarly conclude by similar analysis that this alternativecircuit algorithm also is valid:

    F=[Peak(v1+v2)/Peak(a1-a2)]/2C.                            (17)

The circuit implementation of equation (16) is shown in FIG. 10. Twovelocity sensors 101 and 102 mounted symmetrically around the flow tubecenter as shown in FIG. 9 provide velocity signals, V1 and V2 to thesumming amplifier 103 and the differential amplifier 104. The periodicsignal V1+V2 is fed to an integrating amplifier 105 which converts thevelocity difference to a position difference, Y1+Y2. Note that thisintegrator could also be a low-pass filter since only integration seenat the drive frequency is necessary. The low frequency behavior isimmaterial. Drift in the integrator is also of no harm since thefollowing circuit is an electronic demodulator 106, which extracts thepeak amplitude, Y+, regardless of DC bias. The V1-V2 signal is fed toanother demodulator 107 which delivers a DC output signal, V-, equal tothe peak amplitude of its input signal. The DC signal Y+ is divided bythe DC signal V- in the dividing circuit 108. The dividing circuit maybe analog or digital. If digital it would have an analog to digitalconversion circuit (not shown) serving each input.

An alternative digital design uses a voltage-to-frequency converterfollowing the demodulators in each channel. By counting the number ofcycles in the Y+ channel in FIG. 10a over a fixed number of cycles inthe V- channel, the desired ratio is determined. The count of thecounter represents the mass flow rate.

The output from the dividing circuit is proportional to the mass flowrate. All the circuit elements shown are readily available and wellknown to those of skill in electronics.

The circuit of FIG. 10 is simple and economical to produce. Therequirements of this invention upon linearity of the velocity sensors isrelatively mild in spite of the fact that the method is analog. Thecircuit uses the peak values extracted by demodulators. By properdemodulation technique only the peak values count which representsvalues only around zero (position) amplitude and maximum amplitude. Theintermediate values do not count. The velocity sensors need linearityonly in small domains around zero and maximum position amplitude whichis easy to satisfy. Overall nonlinearity of the sensors will becalibrated out for example by a null adjustment.

The use of moderately high frequencies like 2062 rad/second in the aboveexample makes the signal transmission very favorable. It also permitsthe demodulators to perform averaging over a large number of cycleswithout sacrifice of the flowmeter response time.

Acceleration sensors can replace the velocity sensors shown in FIG. 10.The circuit will then implement equation (17) instead of (16).

The circuitry described above has not been disclosed previously withrespect to mass flowmeter. However, the relationship defined by (5) and(6) have been used by Sipin (see previously cited U.S. patents) on hisstructures with opposite symmetry (Mode 1 drive). Sipin used a velocitysum for control of amplitude and velocity difference as a linear measureof flow rate. The measurement accuracy will be directly dependent uponfrequency stability of the drive and frequency shifts which may occurfor many reasons will pose a major problem. Sipin's method also make theflowmeter accuracy proportionally dependent upon the accuracy of theamplitude control. Even with regulation it is difficult to obtain ashigh control accuracy of the amplitude as one typically wants to achievewith a Coriolis flowmeter.

In contrast, the present invention based upon the circuit embodiment of(16) and (17) requires no precise control of either frequency oramplitude because the position/velocity or velocity/acceleration ratiois independent of these variables.

The circuit embodiment associated with equations (16) and (17) and FIGS.9 and 10 is the preferred embodiment of the signal processing means forthis invention. However, the principle and implementation of Mode 2drive for straight tube Coriolis flowmeters permit another simple andeconomical analog method for signal detection and processing.

This alternative embodiment uses a single velocity, position, oracceleration sensor located precisely at the center of the flow tube.With reference to FIG. 9, which shows the relative amplitudedistribution of the drive marked 114, with peak amplitudes designated115 and 116 it is clear that a sensor in the central location will notbe influenced by the drive motion. However, the amplitude distributionfor the deflection pattern induced by Coriolis forces has a maximum inthe center, 117. This embodiment thus eliminates the complication ofseparation of drive motion from response motion. This method will besensitive to both amplitude and frequency unless these variables arecompensated for by measurement and computation, or alternatively preciseregulation. The enbodiment is most attractive as a low-cost simple massflowmeter where a rugged, obstacle-free path through the meter isdesirable and medium or low accuracy of a mass flow rate measurement isdesired. FIG. 11 shows the circuit for this embodiment.

The circuit in FIG. 10 can be applied with great advantage to many otherflow tube configurations such as the dual flow tube design in FIG. 7.Sensors placed symmetrically with respect to the flow tube midpoint suchas the positions marked 75 and 76 may be used as the sensors in FIG. 10without other change. (Note that FIG. 7 represents a flowmeter driven atthe second mode resonance frequency.) The circuit in FIG. 10 can be usedwith any anti-symmetric drive form.

An almost identical analysis of symmetrically driven flow tubes, whichrepresents all prior art known to applicant, will lead to the followingequations similar to (16) and (17):

    F=[Peak(y1-y2)/Peak(v1+v2)]/2C                             (18)

    F=[Peak(v1-v2)/Peak(a1+a2)]/2C                             (19)

Part B of FIG. 10 shows a circuit for such a symmetric drive. Amplifier103 in that case subtracts V2 from V1 and amplifier 104 adds V1 and V2to form the variables Y- and V+ as shown.

For a straight flow tube driven at Mode 1 resonance frequency thesensors should be placed symmetrically with respect to the flow tubemidpoint and near the second mode extreme points as shown in FIG. 9 at115, 116. The signals from these sensors are used in the circuit in partB of FIG. 10. The alternative circuit of part B of FIG. 10 is usable forthe following flow tube configurations:

Single straight uniform or nonuniform flow tube driven at the resonancefrequency of mode 1, 3, 5 or any odd number mode.

Double straight uniform or non-uniform flow tubes driven at theresonance frequency of mode 1, 3, 5 or any odd number mode.

Slightly curved double flow tubes such as those sold by Danfoss drivenin Mode 1.

Single or double U tube configurations such as disclosed in the SmithU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,422,338 and 4,491,025 and shown in the double flow tubeconfiguration shown in FIG. 10C. Sensors and drive mechanisms willfunction exactly as they do in the related commercial products but thevelocity sensor signals are transmitted into the circuit in part B ofFIG. 10, corresponding to equation (18).

Single or double helix configurations as disclosed in U.S. Ser. Nos.775,739 and 777,707. All sensors and drive remain intact and at the samelocations as used in the related commercial products. The velocitysignals are fed into the circuit in part B of FIG. 10.

The single of double tube embodiments presented in U.S. Pat. No.4,559,833 which use velocity sensors. The signals produced in thedisclosed design can be fed directly into the circuit in part B of FIG.10.

Position and acceleration sensors can also be used replacing thevelocity sensors shown in FIG. 10 both for anti-symmetric and symmetricdrive versions of the flowmeter.

E. Acoustic Wave Suppressor

Acoustic waves can cause problems for Coriolis flowmeters. These wavesare sometimes called water-hammer because their manifestation canclearly be heard when strong. Nonaudible longitudinal acoustic waves arepresent in industrial liquid filled pipes whenever a pump operates inthe line. Valve operations, wind vibrations and many sources createthese waves. Normally a Coriolis flowmeter would not be affected becausethe motion dynamics have very small bandwidth for vibrating disturbanceacceptance (due to low damping). In some piping systems the wave effectsare represented by standing waves.

If the frequency of a standing acoustic wave happens accidentally tofall within the acceptance band of either the drive mode or the responsemode for the flowmeter calibration, problems are likely to occur. Or ifvery strong and frequency random acoustic waves occur, problems maystill arise because many Coriolis flowmeters have a recovery time of 5seconds or more. During that time the instrument is not serving itspurpose which may be control.

One important source of acoustic waves is the drive motion in theCoriolis flowmeter. The frequency is by definition in the drive modeacceptance band. It is not possible to prevent these waves from emittingfrom the flowmeter, but one does not want them to reflect back.

The following describes a wave suppressor device that protects Coriolisflowmeters from the adverse effects of acoustic waves. The device can beused with any type of Coriolis flowmeter. The preferred embodiment isshown in FIG. 12. A Coriolis flowmeter is symbolically shown at 121.Conduits 124 and 125 which are at least as large in cross-sectional areaas the flow tube (larger if parallel tubes are used) are attached to theends of the flowmeter at 122 and 123 and connect the flowmeter to a wavesuppressor device seen between 128 and 137. The latter numbers designateflanges connecting to the fluid inlet and outlet pipes to the device.The wave suppressor has four chambers 129, 132, 134, and 136. The twocentral chambers are separated by a flexible diaphragm 133.

The conduits 124 and 125 connect to the wave suppressor at 126 and 127,respectively. These connection points are within a distance of one ortwo conduit diameters from the diaphragm 133. This diaphragm will, ofcourse, not be exposed to the full static pressure of the fluid, onlythe differential pressure of the flowmeter. It is possible, therefore,to make the diaphragm many orders of magnitude more flexible than pipesand conduits which must withstand the full static pressure.

The purpose of the diaphragm is to let the acoustic waves (which arelongitudinal in the pipe and wave suppressor) go through the diaphragmwhich offers very low resistance to these waves. From a transient wavestandpoint the fluid in the vicinity of the diaphragm will be at nearlyzero pressure differential. The steady state pressure differential doesnot cause any problem for the flowmeter. Therefore, the conduits to theflowmeter will see nearly zero transient pressure differential and onlya minimum of transient wave.

Other aspects in the wave suppressor beside the diaphragm perform usefulwave attenuating functions. The right angle connection of conduits 124and 125 to the relatively large chambers 132 and 134 creates a turbulentflow which suppresses waves. Additional suppression is created by theorifices 130 and 135 formed by the transverse wall members 138 and 139.In accordance with the need of a particular application smaller orlarger orifices could be used or none at all (in the latter case therewould be no separate chambers 129 and 136). The smaller orifice willsuppress incoming waves more effectively. The fluid expansion betweenthe flanges 128 and 137 and the smaller chambers 129 and 136 alsocreates wave reflection and attenuation points.

Acoustic waves generated by the drive vibration will propagate into thewave suppressor but energy losses there will highly reduce thereflection of these waves and reduce the amplitude or returning waves.

For a double tube Coriolis flowmeter the best junction point for theinlet and outlet fluid is by the diaphragm. As an alternative embodimentof this invention two conduits go to the flowmeter on each side of thediaphragm for such flowmeters. This arrangement will reduce circulatingwaves going from one tube to another.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show embodiments of the wave suppressor with expandedcapability, but also requiring much more space. In FIG. 13 the chambers131 and 132 on either side of the diaphragm 133 have been constructed tocreate a resonant system with a node for a desired wavelength at thediaphragm. In order to accomplish that the length A on each side ischosen to be one quarter of the wavelength. A wave propagating from thediaphragm will, after reflection at the end of the chamber 131 or 132,reflect back and arrive exactly in opposite phase with a new emergingwave and cancel it. Thus if a troublesome frequency, such as the drivefrequency, needs to be almost completely attenuated one needs only to"tune" the chambers 131 and 132 by the above described "quarterwavelength principle".

Consider an example with water as fluid. The wave velocity in thechambers 131 and 132 (or any other conduit) is given by the formula:

    Vc=V*√1/[1+(D*E)/(T*Ec)

where

Vc=velocity in conduit

V=velocity in unrestricted medium (1500 meter/sec)

D=inside diameter

E=bulk modulus for fluid

Ec=tube wall Bulk mod.

t=tube wall thickness

In a stainless steel conduit with 5 centimeters inside diameter and 3millimeters wall thickness the wave velocity will be 1380 meters/second.(Bulk modulus for water is 305,000 psi and stainless steel 28,000,000psi).

The wave length at a chosen frequency, f, is given by

    WL=Vc/f

Thus in order to the chambers 131 and 132 to suppress 2062 rad/sec=328.2hertz using the 5 cm tubing requires a length of "A" in FIG. 13:

    A=0.25*1380/328.2=1.05 meter.

A wave suppressor chamber may be too sharply tuned and thereby looseeffectiveness when the disturbing acoustic frequency changes. Theorifices 134 and 135 in FIG. 13 will broaden the bandwidth since thewaves will propagate partially through the chambers 136 and 137 as wellmaking the frequency for node formation at the diaphragm lower. Frictionlosses in the orifices 134 and 135 will further broaden the bandwidth ofthe attenuation.

The total length of this wave suppressor of FIG. 13 is over 2 meters.The embodiment in FIG. 14 reduces the length. It is made of two loops141 and 142. The waves follow the loop bends but not without dispersionwhich relates to bending radius/wave length ratio. Beside the two loopsnext to the center diaphragm 143, FIG. 14 shows a series connected loop144 which is tuned to a different frequency. It could for example bemade quarter-wavelength long at the pulsing frequency of a particularpump which happens to coincide with a sensitive frequency in theflowmeter. By the teaching of this invention it can be seen that one canreadily determine the design parameters. Standard consideration of wavesuppressor wall pressure rating must, of course, be taken into account.

Modifications of the above described modes for carrying out theinvention that are obvious to those of skill in the fields ofengineering mechanics, fluid dynamics, and flow measurement, inparticular, are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. An acoustic wave suppressor for use with a Coriolisflowmeter comprising:(a) an elongated tube having a fluid inlet end anda fluid outlet end; (b) a flexible diaphragm mounted generally centrallyand transversely at only at a perimeter thereof within the tube thatdivides the interior of the tube into an inlet end chamber and an outletend chamber; (c) a first conduit, one end of which connects at an angleof at least 90° to the inlet end chamber proximate to the diaphragm andthe other end of which connects to the flowmeter inlet; and (d) a secondconduit, one end of which connects to the flowmeter outlet and the otherend of which connects at an angle of at least 90° to the outlet endchamber proximate to the diaphragm, said inlet end chamber and outletend chamber having substantially greater cross-sectional areas than thefirst conduit and the second conduit.
 2. An acoustic wave suppressor foruse with a Coriolis flowmeter comprising:(a) an elongated tube having afluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end; (b) a flexible diaphragm mountedgenerally centrally and transversely within the tube that divides theinterior of the tube into an inlet end chamber and an outlet endchamber; (c) a first conduit, one end of which connects to the inlet endchamber proximate to the diaphragm and the other end of which connectsto the flowmeter inlet; and (d) a second conduit, one end of whichconnects to the flowmeter outlet and the other end of which connects tothe outlet end chamber proximate to the diaphragm, said inlet endchamber and outlet end chamber having substantially greatercross-sectional areas than the first conduit and the second conduit;wherein each of said inlet end chamber and said outlet end chamber isdivided into two subchambers by a transverse wall having an orifice topermit fluid to pass therethrough.
 3. An acoustic wave suppressor foruse with a Coriolis flowmeter comprising:(a) an elongated tube having afluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end; (b) a flexible diaphragm mountedgenerally centrally and transversely within the tube that divides theinterior of the tube into an inlet end chamber and an outlet endchamber; (c) a first conduit, one end of which connects to the inlet endchamber proximate to the diaphragm and the other end of which connectsto the flowmeter inlet; and (d) a second conduit, one end of whichconnects to the flowmeter outlet and the other end of which connects tothe outlet end chamber proximate to the diaphragm, said inlet endchamber and outlet end chamber having substantially greatercross-sectional areas than the first conduit and the second conduit;wherein the length of each of said inlet end chamber and outlet endchamber is one-quarter of the wavelength of the frequency of theacoustic wave that is to be suppressed.
 4. The acoustic wave suppressorof claim 1 wherein said tube is straight.
 5. An acoustic wave suppressorfor use with a Coriolis flowmeter comprising:(a) an elongated tubehaving a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end; (b) a flexiblediaphragm mounted generally centrally and transversely within the tubethat divides the interior of the tube into an inlet end chamber and anoutlet end chamber; (c) a first conduit, one end of which connects tothe inlet end chamber proximate to the diaphragm and the other end ofwhich connects to the flowmeter inlet; and (d) a second conduit, one endof which connects to the flowmeter outlet and the other end of whichconnects to the outlet end chamber proximate to the diaphragm, saidinlet end chamber and outlet end chamber having substantially greatercross-sectional areas than the first conduit and the second conduit;wherein each of said inlet end chamber and said outlet end chamber formsa loop, whereby the linear length of the suppressor is reduced.